California voter count at record high

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NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. - The raw number of registered voters in California is a record high for the state, according to the California Secretary of State's office.

Final statewide voter data shows there are 18,245,970 Californians registered to vote during the Nov. 6 general election, which represents about 77 percent of those eligible to cast votes, according to a Friday news release issued by the secretary of state.

"Seeing a record number of Californians registered to vote is wonderful, but there are still too many eligible people skipping the electoral process altogether," said Secretary of State Debra Bowen, California's chief elections officer. "Registering to vote is easier now than it was four years ago, yet fewer people actually registered in this final 45-day window than did in 2008. This makes it clear that it's not just a question of making voter registration easier.

"It's really about what inspires people to care about their democracy and be part of the decision-making process."

Of those registered to vote, 21 percent declared they have no party preference, the release states.

In Nevada County, 62,853 voters are registered to vote in the coming election out of the nearly 76,000 eligible individuals, meaning 82.5 percent of county residents have mailed in ballots or are primed to cast votes Tuesday.

Republicans still make up the largest affiliated group in the county, representing 38 percent of the registered electorate, while Democrats compose 33 percent of county voters.

About 13,600 voters in Nevada County, or 21.75 percent of registered voters, have declined to provide a party preference.

In Placer County, 208,604 residents are registered to vote, out of a little more than 251,135 eligible individuals. The county continues to shine red, with 58,550 registered as Democrats (28.07 percent) and 98,571 registered Republicans (47.25 percent).

During the last presidential election in 2008, Republicans made up 40.76 percent of the registered voters, while Democrats composed 34 percent of the electorate. Those that indicated no party preference represented 19.33 percent of voters in the county in 2008.

"Registering is just the first step. Now it's time for the next two important steps: getting informed and voting by Election Day," Bowen added.

The highest voter turnout for a presidential election in California was 88.4 percent in 1964, the secretary of state release states.

Polls will be open Nov. 6 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All ballots, including vote-by-mail ballots, must be received by county elections officials by 8 p.m. Election Day.